Congressional Ally Updates Firearm Industry Association Members

By Matt Manda

It's good to have friends in high places on your side, like US Rep. Ted Budd of NC.

U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)-It’s good to have friends in the fight. The coronavirus pandemic is causing economic hardship and worry for millions of Americans. Fortunately, the firearm and ammunition industry has allies in Congress to protect Americans’ rights and support small businesses.

U.S. Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined NSSF’s Larry Keane for a virtual town hall hosted by NSSF PAC with dozens of members of the firearm industry trade association. Congressman Budd brings a unique perspective. Along with serving as a Member of Congress, the second-term U.S. Representative from North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District is a gun store and range owner. He is in a rare position that offered participants updates on COVID-19 relief and current firearm and small business-related legislation being considered in the nation’s capital. The hour-long conversation covered several important topics impacting firearm and ammunition manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and shooting range operators.

Keeping Doors Open and Lights On

Rep. Budd kicked off with a congressional update. A major concern at the top of minds of gun store owners and employees has been how to remain open for business during the pandemic. Governors have issued “stay-at-home” orders and “non-essential” business declarations. Millions are out of work. However, Rep. Budd highlighted NSSF’s efforts and success to secure an “essential” business listing on the DHS critical infrastructure guidance.

Securing the “essential” listing was vital and governors mostly followed suit, allowing firearm and ammunition retailers to stay open. This not only means Americans can continue to exercise their Second Amendment right during a critically important time, but also that nearly 330,000 Americans can still go to work. Keane highlighted the firearm industry had $60 billion in economic impact last year, an industry high-water mark.

Safer Communities and Well-Supplied Law Enforcement

Rep. Budd described his own background as a firearm business owner. He was encouraged to take the reins of an existing North Carolina gun store when the former owner called it quits. It was an opportunity to support law-abiding Americans’ ability to purchase firearms and offer customers and members of the law enforcement community a place to practice safe firearm handling. Congressman Budd recalled advice he was given upon purchasing his retail and range facility, stating “Never underestimate the desire of the public to have a safe place to shoot.”

Politics in D.C. and the 2020 Campaign Ahead

Rep. Budd also provided participants Congressional insights and forecasted what the political landscape may look like in the months ahead. Congress passed the “Phase 3.5” economic relief package providing $484 billion for small businesses to weather the coronavirus-induced economic storm. The bill included additional assistance provisions. Rep. Budd remains concerned about ballooning national debt, dependence on overseas supply chains, and the United States’ dependence on Chinese manufacturing of goods ranging from construction equipment to pharmaceuticals.

Rep. Budd and Keane also discussed the importance of financing for small businesses in the firearm and ammunition industries. The conversation included credit card processing, financial discrimination by corporate virtue-signaling banks, the Freedom Financing Act, as well as technology discrimination such as Google search and social media platforms. Discriminatory practices damage the ability of lawful firearm businesses to stay afloat.

Regarding the 2020 campaign in the months ahead, Rep. Budd was optimistic that pro-firearm, pro-Second Amendment champions could win back the U.S House of Representatives but cautioned it would take hard work by candidates. On the presidential campaign trail, Rep. Budd noted presumed Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden’s gun-control history and proposals. The Congressman said President Donald Trump’s accomplishments put him in a strong position to win re-election in November.

Keane wrapped up the virtual townhall by stating millions of gun rights supporters and the thousands of firearm and ammunition-related businesses across the country are fortunate to have such strong allies in the halls of Congress as Rep. Budd, and encouraged everyone to be a #GUNVOTE supporter to keep the industry strong and lasting.

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About The National Shooting Sports Foundation

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 10,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers. www.nssf.org

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NJ2AS and Roubian file federal lawsuit against Gov. Murphy

The NJ2AF is sueing New Jersey Governor Murphy again.

U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- The New Jersey Second Amendment Society (NJ2AS) and Alex “Alejandro” Roubian have formally filed a lawsuit against Governor Murphy on Tuesday, April 28th, 2020. Copies of the complaint and related documents can be found by clicking below:

Verified Complaint

Memorandum of Law

Declaration

Order to Show Cause

In the complaint, NJ2AS and Alejandro contend Governor Murphy, unnamed staff, and the New Jersey Press Association have collectively conspired to bar a reporter from accessing press conferences and public information. The complainants further cite that the action is direct and malicious due to the fact NJ2AS filed a lawsuit against Governor Murphy in March and prevailed.

NJ2AS has complied with the New Jersey Press Association’s guidelines to attend press conferences and had attended numerous events with Governor Murphy, and even several during Governor Christie’s administration. When specific questions began to be asked of Governor Murphy during the Covid-19 press conferences, he showed frustration towards reporter Alex “Alejandro” Roubian and implied publicly that he wasn’t a real journalist and had no business attending the conferences. On the subsequent press conference, a representative of Governor Murphy’s office denied Mr. Roubian access to the event and armed State Police troopers forced him to leave the premises. Mr. Roubian was subsequently kicked out in the same fashion two other days for a total of three times.

“The Governor’s actions in barring NJ2AS and Mr. Roubian from a public forum such as a press conference is not only inappropriate; it clearly violates their First Amendment rights and the oath of office the Governor took to uphold the constitution. Our First Amendment rights must be protected and the lawsuit filed by NJ2AS and Mr. Roubian are paramount not just to them but to the public at large.” said Mr. Roubian’s legal council, Albert Rescinio.

Requests for public records by NJ2AS into the arbitrary nature of the Governor’s banning and behavior returned no existence of any formal guidelines. Having consistently followed the New Jersey Press Association’s rules and attending several press events in the past, NJ2AS and Mr. Roubian are finding their First Amendment rights under attack alongside their Second Amendment rights. This is the second formal lawsuit filed by NJ2AS against members of the government since the Covid-19 Executive Orders enacted by Governor Murphy in March.

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About New Jersey Second Amendment Society:

New Jersey Second Amendment Society – The NJ2AS uses innovative and bold direct-action tactics to expose, document, and take results-oriented action to confront anti-Second Amendment policies and legislators.

By Defending, Protecting, and Preserving the Second Amendment within New Jersey, the NJ2AS works to ensure that our civil rights are restored, no longer degraded, and to prevent NJ from being used as a laboratory to destroy the Second Amendment nationwide. Visit: www.nj2as.com

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AG Letter and Lawsuit by State Rep. Challenge Jackson Open Carry Ban

Well, there’s a surprise… (Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba/Facebook)

U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- “Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba on Friday said he signed an executive order to temporarily ban open carry of firearms in the city, so long as there's a civil emergency related to the COVID-19 crisis. And he's also seeking a permanent ban of the state law,” the Clarion Ledger reported Sunday. “The order remains in effect through Thursday. It is possible it will be extended, according to the city's existing stay-at-home orders.”

It’s a clearly illegal order that violates state law. That’s never stopped “progressive” mayors from flouting duly enacted laws that stand in the way of their agenda before. In this case, Lumumba’s “justification” ought to anger anyone who can see through the weasel-wording and grasp the significance of what he’s really saying.

“Prior to open carry, when Jackson police officers saw a gun in plain view, it gave them probable cause to seize the weapon and determine whether or not it was an illegal gun,” Lumumba asserted — like that was a good thing. In other words, the trigger for a potentially lethal police confrontation is not whether you're abusing a right, but that you're exercising it in the first place.

This is just a new twist on “stop and frisk,” which evidently is dependent on who’s doing it before it is objected to. It would be interesting to review police reports and trial transcripts to see if the stated concern has any bearing in fact and to see if even one case shows this has been a factor in enabling a later homicide.

There’s a history of gun-grabbing politicians imposing “emergency”-based infringements. Hurricane Katrina confiscations come immediately to mind.  And perhaps surprisingly to some, that’s also been backed by some who built a public reputation on being “conservatives,” like former Fox News frontman Bill O’Reilly.

There’s also a history of gun-grabbing politicians imposing disarmament in spite of “preemption” laws. The curious thing about the “home rule” argument is those demanding it never seem to raise it when a national or state law imposes infringements  — cases in point, they’re all fine with national diktats to ban semi-autos or to impose due-process-denying “red flag” edicts.

Still, it’s hardly surprising that Mayor Lumumba would prioritize going after guns. Endorsed by the Bernie Sanders-inspired Our Revolution and promising to make Jackson the “most radical city on the planet,” as well as by the “quasi-Marxist” Working Families Party, he was a beneficiary of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, where he received training from the “finest” apparatchiks rope-selling “capitalist” money can buy.  And while the sins of the fathers can’t be attributed to their progeny, noting that his was prominent in the racist New Afrika separatist movement “that aimed to turn the Deep South into an independent black nation,” shows the fruit hasn’t fallen far from the tree.

It is instructive to see not just what the gun-grabbers would do if they had the power, but also to grok the company they keep. That said, Lumumba’s order is legally DOA.

“Mississippians enjoy the right to lawfully open carry in all of Mississippi’s 82 counties and in every municipality within the State. The City of Jackson is no exception,” State Attorney General Lynn Fitch cautioned the mayor. “The City lacks statutory authority to suspend a state statute or constitutional provision. Accordingly, I ask that you rescind the Order immediately. I take seriously my obligation to protect Mississippians’ constitutional rights, and I will take every action available to my office to ensure these rights are not infringed upon.”

It’s past time we saw some rights enforcement added to the law enforcement mix, especially when it comes to guns.

Additionally, Mississippi State Representative Dana Criswell filed a “Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief” Monday with the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. He’s calling Lumumba’s bluff.

“Rep.  Criswell intends to continue openly carrying a  firearm in a  holster while in public in Jackson, Mississippi, for self-defense,” the complaint notes. “Rep. Criswell intends to be in Jackson, Mississippi, on or before April 30, 2020, and wishes to exercise his constitutional  right to openly carry a firearm in public in Jackson,  Mississippi, for self-defense.”

Let's hope Mayor Chockwe has fun looking like an impotent fool. That’s some Bloomberg training he's managed to misapply through arrogance and overreach. I’m just surprised organized armed civil disobedience hasn’t been reported yet.

Can you imagine the lawsuit if the “leader” of the “most radical city on the planet” had his enforcers arrest anyone for defying a clearly illegal order? Or the fallout should illegal arrests be resisted by those who can?

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About David Codrea:

David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.

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Below The Radar: Gun Suicide Prevention Act

Second Amendment Activist Protest Activism Take Action

United States – -(AmmoLand.com)- Some attacks on our rights can be so subtle, they can be missed at first glance, even in a relatively short piece of legislation. In fact, these are the ones worth studying, if only to be more aware of them.

One such attack is contained in HR 4271, the Gun Suicide Prevention Act, introduced by Representative Julia Brownley (D-CA). At first glance, this very short piece of legislation – all of three pages long in the PDF provided at Congress.gov – seems very innocuous. All it requires is that the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline be provided on a warning label that is included with every firearm sold.

Much of the discussion when it comes to attacks on our Second Amendment rights concern the misuse of firearms – often for homicides. But suicides involving firearms kill about twice as many people as homicides involving the misuse of firearms. Either way, the deaths involved target our rights, and reducing them is in the interest of Second Amendment supporters.

But looking closely at the bill reveals a serious land mine. The requirement to include the warning label amends the Consumer Product Safety Act. Now, we see the trap that has been laid by Representative Brownley.

This is because some anti-Second Amendment extremists, like the Violence Policy Center, have long sought to give unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats the power to order gun bans and recalls. Even with the Congressional Review Act, such bans could be very difficult to defeat. For starters, there would be a limited amount of time to pass the resolution, and if the President is anti-Second Amendment, then you’d need the two-thirds vote to override a veto.

Any law that allowed the Consumer Product Safety Commission to regulate firearms would represent a major shift in power from elected officials that are relatively easy to hold accountable (they have to face elections) to those same unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats. What we have with HR 4271 is just the first small step.

On the PR front, it is a brilliant move. Everyone wants to see suicides reduced. Having the number more available could save lives (and certainly would have more efficacy than many of the usual anti-Second Amendment schemes). Furthermore, a warning label is far less intrusive than waiting periods, licensing schemes, or even outright bans. The releases upon the defeat (or veto) of this bill from the likes of Charles Schumer and Jerrold Nadler seem to write themselves in your mind, don’t they?

While preventing suicides is a laudable goal, even the slightest opening to give the CPSC any power over our Second Amendment rights needs to be shut down. Second Amendment supporters need to contact their Representative and Senators and politely urge them to defeat this legislation, and to instead fund suicide prevention via other means. Failing that, this is a bill that should be loaded up with pro-Second Amendment legislation as amendments, like the Home Defense and Competitive Shooting Act, the FOPA improvements sought by Senator Daines, HR 5301, and the Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act, and your Senators and Representatives should be politely, but firmly, encouraged to do just that.

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About Harold Hutchison

Writer Harold Hutchison has more than a dozen years of experience covering military affairs, international events, U.S. politics and Second Amendment issues. Harold was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.

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